WALLACE, Idaho — Shoshone County commissioners voted 2-1 to give the go-ahead for a public safety levy in a crowded and divided courtroom.
The sheriff’s department faces a $766,000 to $900,000 funding gap and says it needs this money to avoid cutbacks. It asked for a levy on the soonest ballot possible.
“Because you can only do less with less. You cannot do the same and you cannot do more if you want to do less,” said Sheriff Holly Lindsey.
Sheriff Lindsey warned these cutbacks mean the department loses 15 years of progress.
“It’s really hard to potentially watch what we built crumble,” Lindsey said.
State crime statistics show Shoshone County’s crime rate dropped from about 52 per 1,000 people in 2009 to nearly 42 in 2024.
The now authorized levy ballot measure proposes a tax of about $41 for every $100,000 of property value.
“A temporary two-year access levy of the million dollars a year, to pay for public safety and law enforcement purposes,” said David Dose, commissioner for District 2.
Commissioner Jeff Zimmerman questioned the levy’s longevity in fixing the budget issue.
“I’m just concerned that, you know, we’ll be back here in two years and doing the same thing,” Zimmerman said.
The decision sparked anger and optimism among residents.
Jerry Moody, a Shoshone County resident, criticized commissioner David Dose after the meeting.
“We don’t have the benefit of the money that you make. We have social security and for you to sit there and make these kind of do these kind of things to the public is disgusting,” Moody said.
“I’m disappointed in you. Good luck to you on your next election,” Moody added.
Dawn Wiksten, a Shoshone County resident, supported the decision to let voters decide.
“The voters are the ones who pay the price. So we have to be the ones to decide. It’s our homes. It’s our lives, it’s our children,” Wiksten said.
“I don’t want to see higher taxes, but until we can get more money coming in here in some other way, we’re it,” she said.
Next week, the board of commissioners will discuss the full scope of the county’s budget to see exactly where it’s in the hole.
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